Avoiding Hidden Dangers When Your Garage Door Is Your Primary Entrance
Your home may have an inviting and even luxurious front entry, but how much is it used? For most families today, the garage door is not only the largest door in their home, but it is also the most used. For many, the only people who use the front door at all are strangers, delivery people, and those visiting the home for the first time, and everyone else comes into the home through the garage. When this is the case, you can keep everyone safe by following these tips:
Keep Garage Clutter to a Minimum
If your garage is the first thing your guests see when they enter your home, you not only want it to be presentable, you also want to keep them safe. Check walkways for potential slip, trip, and fall hazards. Also, consider decluttering and alternative storage solutions for seldom used items. Boxes piled excessively high can shift and fall on either your guests or their vehicles, causing damage and injury. Cabinets are an excellent option for storing items that need to be accessible, keeping them off of the floor and out of sight.
Safely Store Tools
Most tools are considered hazardous products. A ladder leaned up against the wall can fall. Yard tools are often sharp, and if they are not stored properly, they can cause severe damage. Hang ladders, lawn tools, and other equipment securely on the wall. Utilize a workbench and a pegboard wall for smaller devices.
Maintain a Safe Distance from the Garage Door
Garage doors weight several hundred pounds. Even with the installation of safety mechanisms, accidents can happen. Thousands of Americans visit emergency rooms every year for garage door related injuries. Let family members and guests know to stay well away from an opening or closing garage door.
Regularly Check Garage Door Sensors
These sensors are the “eyes” of the garage door which tell it when something is blocking its pathway. If the sensors are malfunctioning, the door will not stop if a car, a child, a pet, or a tool is in the way. These sensors should be aligned and placed four to six inches off the ground on either side of your garage door.
Leave Garage Door Repair to Professionals
Just like with a car, with regular care and maintenance, your garage door will have a long and healthy functional life. It can be difficult for the untrained eye to determine whether or not a garage door needs repairs. This complication comes mostly from the sheer volume of moving parts on these doors. Without proper maintenance, springs can break, bearings, hinges, and rollers can wear out, and cables can fray, all potentially resulting in severe injury.
If you believe your garage door needs maintenance, repair, or replacing, contact Blue Sky Builders today. We have 39 years of experience in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. We are passionate about our work and will provide honest and dependable service. Let us answer your garage door questions today. Contact us at 630-852-8485. Please visit our gallery to look at some of our past projects.
Sources
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-25605
https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/rooms-and-spaces/doors-and-windows/garage-door-safety